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The authors report positional cloning of the gene responsible for production of retrovirus-neutralizing antibodies in mice of the I/LnJ strain. It encodes the beta subunit of the non-classical major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II)-like molecule H2-O, a negative regulator of antigen presentation. The recessive and functionally null I/LnJ H2-Ob allele supported the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies independently of the classical MHC haplotype. [Immunity]
Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

A total of 86 participants from a tuberculosis (TB)-endemic setting, either HIV-infected or uninfected and with latent or active TB (aTB), were screened using M. tuberculosis–specific MHC class II tetramers. Investigators examined the phenotype as well as function of ex vivoM. tuberculosis–specific tetramer+CD4+ T cells using flow cytometry. The numbers of M. tuberculosis–specific tetramer+CD4+ T cells were relatively well maintained in HIV-infected persons with aTB, despite severe immunodeficiency. [J Immunol]
Abstract

The authors investigated the effect of the HIV-1 auxiliary protein, Nef, which is suspected of extracellular release by infected CD4+ T cells on protein quality control and autophagy in cardiomyocytes. [Sci Rep]
Full Article

The NIH has awarded Einstein researchers three grants totaling more than $12 million to protect against three deadly viruses—Ebola, Marburg and hantavirus. [Albert Einstein College of Medicine]
Press Release

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Aradigm Corporation a Small Business Initiative Research grant to investigate the treatment of two pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria infections, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium abscessus, with Aradigm’s inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin products Linhaliq™ and Lipoquin®. [Aradigm Corporation]
Press Release

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the U.S. FDA has granted priority review for the company’s New Drug Application for an investigational, fixed-dose combination of bictegravir, a novel investigational integrase strand transfer inhibitor, and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide, a dual-NRTI backbone, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.]
Press Release

President Donald Trump has translated his campaign promise to “make America great again” into his administration’s first blueprint for federal investment in science and technology. [ScienceInsider]
Editorial

Japan’s premier scientific research institution, RIKEN, turned 100 this year, and celebrated with a grand ceremony attended by the empress and emperor. But not everybody was in the mood to party. In the old days, RIKEN was known as a paradise for scientists because of its generous funding. No longer: as Japan cuts off funds in the face of continuing financial uncertainty, the cracks are starting to show. [Nature News]
Editorial